Writer's Block

When you hear writers in the movies talking about having 'writer's block', they make it sound like some mystical thing they have no control over. I don't know that I really believe in 'writer's block', exactly. But something is going on with me over the past few days, and I don't like it!

I wouldn't go so far as to say I am blocked, but stopped up or something? Maybe. I was excited about starting over and getting to work on a new format for my novel, but when I sit down to write, nothing comes out. I have barely written a thousand words in the past four days! My goal is more like 2,000 words a day, so suffice it to say... I'm behind.

Tonight I meet with my YA critique group, and by midnight tonight, I'm supposed to upload 50 new pages for them to critique. I don't have 50 pages! I have 5 pages. Ouch! There's no way I'm going to write 45 pages by midnight tonight, so I'm screwed when it comes to meeting that goal. I'll have to figure something else out.

As for the main problem - this writer's block episode - I need to come up with a solution that works for me. Something to get my writing back on track. Tricks of the trade, so to speak. Today, I am fortunate to be able to dedicate my entire day to writing (almost), so the first thing I plan to try is getting out of the house. Sometimes when I just go to coffee shop or to the bookstore or library, being out of the house and in a place where I have to focus on the writing instead of playing with the dog or cleaning up or whatever, helps tremendously. I think I'll go to Panera - one of my very favorite places to go write because coffee refills are cheap. Once I get there, if the writing isn't coming naturally, I'll try the trick of thinking of one small event. A tiny scene that needs to be written. Then, I'll give myself permission to write badly as long as I can get through that one connecting scene. When it's written, maybe I'll find that I want to write the next scene too.

I think the key is just to not stop trying. To not give up on your writing or get so frustrated by the missed days that you cripple your inspiration. Never lose faith in your ability to create. I know that this will pass, and when it does, the floodgates will open as everything I've wanted to say but couldn't, can finally be expressed.